Nacional Madeira President Rui Alves reveals Cristiano Ronaldo has been training at their pitch with ‘a great desire to resume play’ and predicts he will stay at Juventus ‘a few more years’.
At home in Madeira, the Portugal captain has used his contacts to help him continue training during the current quarantine and his first club’s patron has revealed the joy he felt seeing Ronaldo back at their pitch.
Nacional Madeira President Rui Alves reveals Cristiano Ronaldo has been training at their pitch with ‘a great desire to resume play’ and predicts he will stay at Juventus ‘a few more years’.
At home in Madeira, the Portugal captain has used his contacts to help him continue training during the current quarantine and his first club’s patron has revealed the joy he felt seeing Ronaldo back at their pitch.
“Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo scoring on our pitch makes me feel young again,” Rui Alves told Tuttosport. “When Cristiano arrived at our academy, he was 10 years old and from his first club, Andorinha. In exchange, we gave them balls and kits.
“Two years later, in 1997, I was the President who signed his move to Sporting in Lisbon. He was already very good as a kid, but it was impossible to imagine that he could have become the best player in the history of football.”
The President revealed Ronaldo contacted him asking for an opportunity to train on their ground during the quarantine period.
“Cristiano called us, and we were happy to give him this chance. We have complied with Madeira’s health rules and protocols linked to COVID-19, starting from the respect of safety distances.
“Cris was our boy and is now the best possible example for the Accademia del Nacional. He is a role model for the whole world.
“He is super professional and has remarkable human qualities. He is the pride of our club, of all of us. The best footballer in history was born on our small island.”
The President has claimed Ronaldo, who has scored 21 goals in 22 Serie A games this term, seems ‘determined’ and ‘super motivated’ to train during the forced break.
“I don’t think he comes here every day. Sometimes he will come in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon,” he said. “It depends on his training programme.
“I found him super motivated and determined. The Madeiran air will have given him even more positive energy. He’s training hard. He’s looking forward to the end of this health emergency. First, for the good of the world and the people, and then because he has a great desire to return to play.”
The Nacional Madeira patron has suggested Ronaldo is ‘very happy’ at Juventus and predicts the Portuguese talisman will stay at the Allianz Stadium for ‘a few more years’.
“He seemed very happy at Juve. I think and I hope he will remain there for a few more years.
“I want him to win the Scudetto, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or in Bianconero.”